Wildcats Conclude Conference Soccer Season with a Win

The University School girls’ soccer team defeated Brookfield Academy 2-0 Wednesday in Brookfield.

The rain was pouring like a waterfall, and many thought that playing was unfathomable in the weather conditions at the start of the game.  But the two teams persevered; the Wildcats were happy they did. They scored a goal in each half and played fundamentally sound defense to keep the Blue Knights scoreless.  As the clouds dissipated late in the game, it was clear which team was the better. 

With his team leading 1-0 at halftime, USM’s head coach Jock Mutschler expostulated with the players about letting down on defense.  He told them, “We have a lead now.  Play even tougher defense.  Mark closely; keep them to the outside.  They will feel pressured and bring more people up to try to score.  That will give our forwards and midfielders openings, and we can have chances to score.”  The Wildcats paid heed to his argument. After being out shot 7-5 in the first half, the Wildcats became even more truculent on defense in the second half, limiting their opponents to only four shots, only one of which was on goal.  Their defensive posture led to several scoring opportunities.  The Wildcats outshot BA 10-4 in the final forty minutes and made good on one of those shots.

Through the rain and fog during the pre-game warm-ups, the Wildcats watched their opponents and discovered a way to gain advantage. They scored their first goal as a result of their learning.  Gaining the ball along the left sideline, Amber Baker took a touch down the line then quickly centered a pass to Kat Schmidt. Schmidt pushed the ball around a defender then quickly drilled a hard shot inside the left post to give USM a 1-0 lead at 35:27.

The Wildcats scored their second goal at 77:01.  Baker got the ball in the center of the field on the BA half.  She played it wide to Kate Nosbusch.  Nosbusch moved in deep, turned toward the net.  She spotted Caity Prewitt racing toward the far goal post.  Nosbusch’ s long crossing pass became an adventitious goal, as the ball caromed off a BA defender and past Jennie Novak, BA’s startled goalie.

The Wildcats kept their defensive pressure on after that.  BA did have one long shot from the right side that went on net, but USM’s goalkeeper Emily Wigdale gathered it in like she was dropping bread into a grocery cart making BA’s threat null and void.

The win improved USM’s record to 7-4-2 and 5-2 in the conference.  The Wildcats finish their regular season with a game against Grafton at 4:30 p.m. Friday at USM.

Team

Time

Goal Scorer

Assist

USM

35:27

Kat Schmidt

Amber Baker

USM

77:01

Kate Nosbusch

Saves

Team

Goalkeeper

Save Total

USM

Emily Wigdale

4

BA

Jennie Novak

6